The Project for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness (PATH) program delivers essential, community-based outreach and support to individuals experiencing chronic homelessness, with a focus on those living with serious mental illness or co-occurring substance use disorders. The PATH Street Outreach team works directly with unsheltered neighbors who reside in places not meant for human habitation—under bridges, in the woods, or in encampments. While a few choose to live “off the grid,” the majority face homelessness as a result of debilitating mental or physical health conditions, histories of trauma such as childhood abuse or combat experience, and barriers of distrust toward systems that may have failed them in the past.

To meet these needs, PATH House serves as a welcoming resource hub for individuals living unsheltered in the community. Open three days a week, it provides food, clothing, showers, laundry facilities, internet access, and referrals to vital community services. Once a week, PATH clients can attend a support group meeting, and those enrolled in the program also benefit from case management, life skills training, transportation assistance, and help with housing searches. On the remaining days, staff dedicate their time to outreach across Iredell County, seeking out those who may be most isolated and vulnerable.

Located just one block from the main facility, PATH House stands as an accessible entry point for individuals not yet ready to break the cycle of homelessness but in need of immediate relief and connection. Since 2022, a four-person team—including two Qualified Mental Health Professionals, a Peer Support Specialist, and a  Certified SOAR Benefits Specialist—has expanded services to provide holistic case management and benefits support. In FY24 alone, the Street Outreach Team made repeated contact with 452 individuals living unsheltered, enrolling 33 into the PATH program where they received intensive support, including access to mental health care and substance abuse treatment, as they worked toward stability and housing.